Switch actuation mechanism for a firearm-mounted flashlight

ABSTRACT

A switch actuation apparatus for a firearm-mounted flashlight having a switch mechanism. The apparatus is mounted to a firearm having a grip area for being held by a hand. A support base is adapted to be mounted from the grip area. A slide is movably supported by the support base for causing actuation of the switch mechanism for operating the flashlight. The flashlight is supported by one of the support base or slide. The apparatus further includes an actuating member coupled to the slide for movement relative to the support base. The actuating member has an operating surface accessible to at least a finger of a hand holding the grip area of the firearm for moving the slide to operating the flashlight. In this arrangement, the user of the firearm can easily operate the flashlight without moving a hand from its usual position for holding and operating the firearm.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a switch actuation mechanism for afirearm-mounted flashlight.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People who use firearms in the dark, such as law enforcement officers,must ordinarily use one hand to wield their firearm and use their otherhand to wield a flashlight in order to locate and identify their target.If it becomes necessary to shoot, such persons are thus unable toconveniently use a two-handed grip on their weapon, which is preferredfor accuracy and for absorbing the recoil energy of the weapon.

Mounting devices are known for mounting a flashlight upon a firearm. Oneknown mounting device for mounting a flashlight to a Glocksemi-automatic pistol, comprises a tubular body which attaches to thebottom of an ammunition clip. A flashlight is received within thetubular body and is held in position by a thumbscrew-driven clamp. Thepreferred flashlight for use in the Glock mounting device is of the typethat includes a switch member operable by depressing the rear surface ofthe flashlight, such as the "SCORPION" flashlight manufactured byStreamlight, Inc. of Norristown, Pa.

Regardless of the type of flashlight employed in such a mount, it isnecessary for the user to alter his grip upon the weapon in order tooperate the flashlight, particularly when using a rifle. While the usercould initially turn the flashlight on, and subsequently leave theflashlight on, such operation would be hazardous if the user did notwant his location to be known at all times. It would thus be desirableto provide a switch actuation mechanism for a firearm-mounted flashlightthat would allow the user to operate the flashlight without having tosubstantially alter his grip from a normal firing grip on the weapon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a switch actuation mechanismfor a firearm-mounted flashlight is provided wherein a support baseadopted to be mounted from the grip area of the firearm. A slide isprovided which is movably supported by the support base for causingactuation of a switch mechanism of a flashlight. The flashlight issupported by one of the support base or slide. The slide includes anactuating member coupled thereto for movement relative to the supportbase. The actuating member has an operating surface accessible to atleast a finger of a hand holding the grip area for moving the slide tooperate the flashlight. In the preferred embodiment, the flashlightswitch is a momentary switch having sufficient resiliency for beingmaintained in an "of" position, such that depressing the operatingsurface of the actuating member will turn the flashlight on, andreleasing the lever will allow the flashlight to turn off. In thisarrangement, the flashlight is operable by a finger of the hand holdingthe grip area of the firearm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments of the present invention, will be betterunderstood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a pistol equipped with theapparatus of the present invention and showing the apparatus holding aflashlight in position for having its switch mechanism activated;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an ammunition clip for the pistolof FIG. 1 and showing the apparatus of the invention with the flashlightremoved;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus for mounting a flashlightof FIG. 2 but with the ammunition clip of FIG. 2 and the support base onthe ammunition clip omitted;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of anapparatus for holding a flashlight to the ammunition clip of a firearm;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the ammunition clip with thesupport base and switch actuation of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the structure of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the flashlight holding slide of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a pistol generally designated10. The pistol 10 has a handle 12 to which a flashlight carriergenerally designated 14 is attached. The carrier 14 provides a supportbase mounted to the grip area or handle of the pistol and includes atubular portion 16 for receiving the body of a tubular flashlight 18therein. The carrier or support base 14 further includes attachmentmeans for attaching the carrier 14 to the pistol 10 so that the tubularportion 16 is suspended below the handle 12 of the pistol 10. As bestshown in FIG. 3, the carrier 14 has a retaining rim 20 formed along anupper surface thereof. The retaining rim is formed for receiving andretaining an outwardly extending flange (indicated in dotted lines) onopposite sides of the bottom of an ammunition clip 22, as shown in FIG.2. The flanges on the bottom of the ammunition clip fit within theretaining rim 20 to hold the parts together.

A thumbwheel 24 is positioned within the mid section of the carrier 14between the tubular portion 16 and the retaining rim 20. A threaded rod28 is captured within the thumbwheel 24. A clamping block 26 (shown indotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2) is attached to the lower end of the rod28 so that, as the thumbwheel is rotated, the clamping block 26 isdriven up or down within the body 16 of the carrier 14 in order toreleasably clamp the flashlight 18 within the tubular portion 16. Thecarrier 14 may be of the type manufactured by Glock of Austria for usewith a Glock semi-automatic pistol. The flashlight 18 may be of the typemanufactured by Streamlight, Inc. of Norristown, Pa., under thetrademark "SCORPION", which is a small, high intensity flashlight.

A fulcrum member 30 is attached to the forward surface of the carrier14. The fulcrum member 30 can be attached to the carrier 14 by screws(not shown), by a suitable adhesive, or may be formed as a unitary bodywith the carrier 14. An actuating member or lever 32 is pivotallysupported on the fulcrum member 30 about pin 34 extending through thelever 32 and the fulcrum member 30. The lever 32 is thus mounted uponthe fulcrum member 30 to pivot between the respective alternativeorientations as indicated at 32 and 32' in FIG. 2. The lever 32 ispositioned upon the carrier 14 such that the forward surface 32a of thelever is aligned with the forward surface of the handle 12 of the pistol10 and provides an operating surface for moving the level with a fingerof the hand on the pistol grip area. More specifically, forward surface32a of the lever 32 is aligned with the lower portion of the handle 12so that the user may grasp the pistol 10 in substantially a normalfiring position with the lowermost finger of his dominant hand restingagainst the forward or operating surface 32a of the actuating member orlever 32.

A slide or link member 36 is pivotally coupled to the lower end of thelever 32 at pivot pin 38 extending through the link member 36 and thelever 32. The pivotal connection between link member 36 and lever 32provides linear translation of the slide 36 in the forward directionwhen lever 32 is depressed to pivot upon pin 34. In the preferredembodiment, a pair of slides 36 are positioned along opposite sides ofthe mid-section of the carrier 14. More specifically, the slides or linkmembers are arranged to slide beneath the lower surfaces of thethumbwheel 24 and above the upper surfaces of the tubular body 16. Thelink members 36 are preferably joined together at the rear ends thereofforming a yoke 38. As an alternative arrangement, a single link membermay be employed and extend through the interior of anappropriately-modified carrier 14, so that there are no moving partspositioned along the opposite sides of carrier, if desired.

An arm or support member 40 is rigidly connected to the rear of the linkmember 36 at the yoke 38. The support member 40 is suspended from theyoke for supporting a protrusion or boss 42 in substantial alignmentwith the central axis of the tubular portion 16 of the carrier 14. Whenthe flashlight 18 is positioned within the carrier 14, the boss 42 isthus positioned against the rear of the flashlight, so that actuation ofthe lever 32 causes the boss 42 to be urged into the position designated42' (shown in FIG. 2) in order to depress a switch mechanism, known as atail cap switch (not shown), positioned at the rear end of theflashlight.

The switch mechanism of the flashlight 18 preferably comprises amomentary switch of the type that turns the flashlight "on" whendepressed, and which turns the flashlight "off" when released. Theswitch mechanism further provides sufficient resilience to urge againstthe boss 42 in order to return the lever 32 to the forward position whenthe lever is released by the finger of the user's hand from thedepressed position 32'.

As can be appreciated, by positioning the operating surface 32a inalignment with the lower portion of the handle 12, and within reach ofthe user's lowermost finger, the flashlight 18 can thus be operatedwhile substantially maintaining a normal firing grip on the pistol 10.Additionally, the user may operate the flashlight while maintaining atwo-handed grip on the pistol for improved aiming accuracy and recoilresistance.

Several alternative embodiments are contemplated within the scope of theinvention. For example, the forward end of link member 36 can beconnected to the lever 32 on the same side of the fulcrum as theoperating surface 32a, as long as a lever mechanism (not shown) isprovided at the rear end of the link member for driving the boss 42 inthe opposite direction when the lever 32 is pulled toward the handle.Alternatively, the operating surface 32a of the lever 32 may bepositioned to face the handle 12, so that the flashlight 18 can beoperated by the user extending his lower finger away from the handle 12,rather than by pulling the lever 32 toward the handle 12 as has beendescribed.

As can be appreciated, a general principle of the invention is toprovide a switch actuation mechanism that is readily accessible to theuser while maintaining a normal firing grip on the firearm. It is alsodesirable to provide a simple, easily operated mechanical linkage forthe actuation surface to effect relative movement between areleasably-held flashlight and the switch driving member. Such relativemovement may be effected by maintaining the flashlight in a fixedposition while urging a switch driving member against the switchmechanism of the flashlight, as described above, or by urging theflashlight against a switch driving member. Such an alternativearrangement is shown in FIG. 4.

A carrier generally designated 50 is provided for receiving the barrelof a flashlight (not shown). The carrier 50 includes a thumbwheelhousing 52, in which a thumbwheel 54 is disposed for operating a clamp(not shown) for releasably holding the flashlight within the flashlightreceptacle portion 55 of carrier 50. The top portion of the carrier 50has a groove 56 formed therein for providing a receptacle receiving amating surface of an attachment fixture or support base 60. Theattachment fixture or support base 60 is formed on the bottom of anammunition clip 62. 0f course, the support base may be attached toanother suitable part of a firearm such as the handle.

The carrier or slide 50 is held in sliding engagement with the supportbase 60. The fixture or support base 60 further includes an arm oractuating member 64 suspended from the rear of the support base 60 forsupporting a protrusion or boss 66 in alignment with the central axis ofthe tubular portion of the carrier 50, so that the boss 66 is positionedto abut against the tail switch of the flashlight (not shown) during useof the actuation mechanism. An operating surface 67 is provided on theforward surface of a trigger or actuating member 68 connected to theforward end of the carrier 50.

When the flashlight is installed in the carrier or slide 50, the switchactuation mechanism is operated by depressing the operating surface 67of the actuating member 68. Depressing the trigger member 68 will causethe slide 50 to move or slide rearwardly upon the support base 60, sothat the tail cap switch mechanism of the flashlight will be urgedagainst the boss or stop 66 to turn on the flashlight. As noted above,in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the flashlight includes amomentary switch mechanism having sufficient resiliency to bias theflashlight away from the boss 66 when the trigger 68 is released, thusturning the flashlight off.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown the attachment support base orfixture 60 in position on the bottom of the ammunition clip 62 and withthe slide or carrier 50 removed. The bottom surface of the fixture has adetent 72 formed thereon for retaining the carrier 50 in slidableengagement with the fixture, and for preventing the carrier 50 frombeing inadvertently removed from the fixture during normal operation. Ascan be seen in FIG. 6, the detent 72 may be a ball-type detent memberformed on the bottom surface of the fixture 60. Referring to FIG. 7, amating groove or recess 70 is formed in the upper surface of the carrier50 for receiving the detent 72 and for allowing the carrier 50 to slideupon the fixture 60 within limits established by the length of thegroove 70.

The switch actuation mechanism for a firearm-mounted flashlight has beendescribed with respect to a pistol. It will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that the mechanism of the invention can easily beapplied to a rifle and support the flashlight below one of the gripareas of a rifle. The mechanism could be supported by or on the triggerguard or on a post attached to the rifle and extending downwardly fromthe lower surface of the rifle where a hand would normally grip therifle in use.

It should also be appreciated that with the use of the presentinvention, the flashlight can be clamped into and removed from thecarrier, which provides greater versatility for use of the flashlight.Furthermore, by clamping the flashlight into the carrier by merelyoperating the thumbscrew, the flashlight can be easily and quicklyinserted into and removed from the carrier on the firearm.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation. There is no intention in the use ofsuch terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the featuresshown and described or portions thereof. It is recognized, however, thatvarious modifications are possible within the scope and spirit of thepresent invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for operating a switch mechanism ona flashlight, the apparatus being mounted to a firearm having a griparea for being held by a hand, the apparatus comprising:a support baseadapted to be mounted from the grip area; a slide movably supported bythe support base for causing actuation of the switch mechanism of theflashlight for operating the flashlight; the flashlight being supportedby one of the support base or slide; and an actuating member coupled tothe slide for movement relative to the support base and having anoperating surface accessible to at least a finger of a hand holding thegrip area for moving the slide to operate the flashlight, whereby theflashlight is operable by a hand holding the grip area of the firearm.2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the firearm is a pistol, and thesupport base is aligned with a lower portion of the handle.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2 wherein the switch mechanism of the flashlightcomprises a momentary switch for turning the flashlight on when theactuating member is actuated, and for allowing the flashlight to turnoff when the actuating member is released.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2in which the actuating member is pivotally coupled to the support baseand wherein the slide is coupled to the actuating member for movement inoperating the switch mechanism.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein theswitch mechanism is located at the rear of the flashlight, the slideincludes an arm having a boss, the arm supporting the boss in alignmentwith the switch mechanism.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein theswitch mechanism comprises a momentary switch for turning the flashlighton when the actuating member is operated, and for allowing theflashlight to turn off when the actuating member is released.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the switch mechanism comprises a momentaryswitch for turning the flashlight on when the actuating member isoperated and for allowing the flashlight to turn off when the actuatingmember is released.
 8. An apparatus, comprising:a support base attachedto a grip area of a firearm; including a flashlight holder the supportbase and adapted to receive a flashlight with a switch mechanism; aslide movably supported by the support base for causing actuation of theswitch of the flashlight; an actuating member coupled to the slide formoving the slide to actuate the switch, the actuating member having anoperating surface accessible to at least a finger of a hand holding thegrip area, whereby the flashlight is operated by a hand holding the griparea.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the support base is mounted toan ammunition clip positionable within the handle of the firearm. 10.The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the support base is configured tosupport the flashlight below the handle of the firearm, the holdercomprises a tubular portion for receiving the flashlight therein, theslide includes a switch driving member substantially in axial alignmentwith the tubular portion of the holder for actuating a tail switch ofthe flashlight.